- 1946
- 1949 - 1970 - 1974 - 1977
- 1981
- 1996
- 2002 - 2009 - 2010
-
Alouettes Team Formation
Canadian football has a long history in Montreal, dating to the 1850s. The Alouettes were first formed in 1946 by Canadian Football Hall of Famer Lew Hayman along with businessmen Eric Cradock and Léo Dandurand. They named themselves after “Alouette”, a work song about plucking the feathers from a skylark, which had become a symbol of the Québécois. The origin of the team’s name also comes from the 425 Tactical Fighter ... -
Grey Cups Champs 1949 – 1970 – 1974 – 1977
Grey Cup 1949 The 37th Grey Cup was played on November 26, 1949, before 20,087 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto. Montreal Alouettes defeated Calgary Stampeders 28-15. Though teams from Montreal had won two Grey Cups, this was the first appearance and victory for the Montreal Alouettes franchise. Grey Cup 1970 The 58th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1970, before 32,669 fans at CNE Stadium in Toronto. The Montreal Alouettes defeated the ... -
End of the Original Alouettes
Skalbania was reported late in 1981 to be selling to oil magnate Pat Bowlen, who would later buy the NFL’s Denver Broncos in 1984. Later in 1981, NFL coach George Allen obtained an option to purchase 51% of the club and was named Alouettes’ president. While holding both the option and the post, Allen was surprised by Skalbania arranging a ... -
Alouettes Rebirth
4In 1997, Speros (owner of the Baltimore Stallions) sold the team to developer and investor Robert Wetenhall, who still owns the team today. Smith stepped down as league commissioner and became president of the Alouettes. The revived Alouettes franchise played their first two seasons at Olympic Stadium, but attendance in the cavernous domed stadium was very poor at first. The ... -
Grey Cup Champs 2002 – 2009 – 2010
Grey Cup 2002 The 90th Grey Cup was the 2002 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes on November 24 at Commonwealth Stadium, in Edmonton, Alberta. The Alouettes defeated the Eskimos 25-16 in the first all-Canadian CFL championship game to feature the host team since 1983. It was Don Matthews’ fifth Grey Cup ...
History of the Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a professional Canadian Football League (CFL) team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the Alouettes have been one of the most successful teams in CFL history. With nine Grey Cup championships, they are tied for second all-time with Edmonton Eskimos and only behind the Toronto Argonauts’ record of seventeen titles. The team has also produced some of the greatest players ever to play Canadian football, such as Sam Etcheverry and Doug Flutie, who were both inducted into the CFL Hall Of Fame after their careers ended with Montreal.
Throughout its history, Montreal has always had a passionate fan base that supports them through thick and thin regardless of whether they make it to playoffs every year, which is why many fans consider them “the heart and soul” of Canadian football culture. The city loves everything about this franchise, from its rich heritage to current players like quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., wide receiver Eugene Lewis or running back William Stanback, who have helped keep this organization alive since its inception over seventy years ago!
Today's iteration of The Als still plays at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium located near downtown, where thousands gather on game day, cheering on their beloved home team, whether it be during regular season games or playoff matchups against other top contenders for glory within league competition; something no true sports fan should miss out on experiencing firsthand!
Alouettes Products
Established
1946
City
Montreal
League History
1958 – Present / Canadian Football League
Team History
1946 - Present / Montreal Alouettes
Nickname
Alouette - The Montreal Alouettes are a beloved Canadian Football League (CFL) team, and their name has a fascinating history. The original Alouettes were founded in 1946 as part of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, which later became the CFL.
At first, they were known as "Montreal," but this was changed to "Alouettes" after a French-language newspaper ran a contest to find them a new nickname. The winning entry came from then-governor General Georges Vanier's wife Pauline, who suggested it because she thought Alouette - meaning lark or skylark - was an appropriate symbol for Canada’s national bird and represented freedom and flight.
This new moniker stuck with the team when it joined the CFL in 1958, becoming one of its most recognizable names along with other legendary groups like Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders. Even today, fans continue to show their support by wearing jerseys sporting “Les Glorieux” – another term used for referring to Montréal's football club! It is clear that even though much time has passed since its inception, Les Alouette remains close at heart for many sports enthusiasts across Canada!
Championship
Grey Cup 7
2010, 2009, 2002, 1977, 1974, 1970, 1949
Stadium
1947 - 1967, 1972, 1998 - Present / Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
1976 - 1986, 1996 - 1998 / Olympic Stadium
1968 - 1971, 1973 - 1976 / Autostade
1946 - 1953 / Delorimier Stadium
Owner
1997 - Present / Robert Wetenhall
1996 - 1997 / Jim Speros and Michael Gelfand
1994 - 1996 / Jim Speros
1946 - 1993 / Community - Widely Held
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
13 / Anthony Calvillo
27 / Mike Pringle
28 / George Dixon
56 / Herb Trawick
63 / Pierre Desjardins
74 / Peter Dalla Riva
75 / Hal Patterson
77 / Junior Ah You
78 / Virgil Wagner
86 / Ben Cahoon
92 / Sam Etcheverry
*Blue is this team’s history
